As midnight approached, the atmosphere at Amoy grew increasingly fervent.
Fang Yuan had invited several D-list starlets from his company to join them, and soon the large table was crowded with handsome men and beautiful women.
Bottles of expensive imported liquor were opened one after another. The group clamored, challenging each other to drinking bouts, and soon everyone was high on the alcohol. They were huddled together—embracing, kissing, or sitting on laps—in every imaginable posture of revelry.
Xie Chengnan remained seated upright, his shirt sleeves neatly rolled to his elbows, without a single hair out of place.
Jiang Yuan had originally wanted to see what Xie Chengnan looked like drunk, but even after two bottles, the man showed no signs of losing his composure. Instead, he became even more silent, his gaze deep and focused when he looked at people, a look so stirring that it made the men and women at the table restless with desire.
Jiang Yuan watched with a cold eye as someone else stepped forward to offer Xie Chengnan a drink. It was a fair-skinned young man with a soft, delicate smile, yet he was bold enough to press himself against Xie Chengnan while holding his glass.
The young master Jiang was already tipsy, and his temper flared easily. Watching this, a nameless fire rose in his chest; he raised his hand and smashed his glass on the floor.
The table fell silent instantly.
Jiang Yuan picked up a napkin and wiped his hands with slow, deliberate movements. He looked at the young man—who had already quietly rested a finger on Xie Chengnan’s thigh—and said with a half-smile, "Does my boyfriend feel good to the touch?"
The young man recoiled in fear, tears instantly welling in his eyes.
He had noticed Xie Chengnan the moment he arrived. The man had deep features and a sturdy build; his sophisticated grey suit accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, and his steady temperament radiated an undeniable masculine pheromone. Moreover, his expression was serious and upright; that smileless, almost ascetic aura made the boy’s heart race with a single glance.
He had observed from the sidelines for a long time. Seeing Xie Chengnan sitting alone and politely but coldly distancing himself from the women who approached, he guessed the man might prefer men. He had taken advantage of the dim lights and the heat of the alcohol to make a move, never imagining the man was already spoken for.
Seeing the boy’s "innocent white lotus" act only fueled Jiang Yuan’s irritation. He tilted his head toward Xie Chengnan and asked, "You like this type, hmm?"
The way he trailed off that last syllable made it clear to everyone that Young Master Jiang was about to blow a fuse.
Xie Chengnan felt somewhat wrongly accused. The booth was originally spacious, but it had become cramped after the group invited so many friends. When the boy had pressed against him just now, he thought it was an accidental bump due to the lack of space. He hadn't expected it to be a deliberate provocation; after all, he was essentially a straight man and hadn't considered that another man would be interested in him.
Seeing Xie Chengnan remain silent, Jiang Yuan’s anger flared even higher. The young starlet, perhaps thinking Xie Chengnan really was interested, had the audacity to lean in even closer.
Jiang Yuan let out a cold laugh and picked up a wine bottle, weighing it in his hand with a manic glint in his eyes.
Xie Chengnan quickly grabbed his hand, prying his fingers open one by one to take the bottle away. He frowned and said, "Stop causing a scene."
Jiang Yuan pursed his lips, staring at the young man with a vicious gaze, as if he wanted to carve a piece of flesh off him.
Terrified by Jiang Yuan’s expression, the boy turned to Fang Yuan for help.
Fang Yuan, however, was wearing a bitter expression and could barely look out for himself. He was terrified that the "Demon King" Jiang would turn his sights on him next, so he had no time to worry about a reckless little starlet.
Only then did the boy realize he had provoked someone he shouldn't have. He sat there in a daze, wringing his fingers in restless anxiety.
Qiao Song watched coldly for a while before letting out a short laugh. He said to Jiang Yuan, "If your little plaything isn't behaving, just swap him for another. Don't work yourself into a state over it."
Jiang Yuan shot a sideways glance at Xie Chengnan and sneered, "True enough. Maybe this young master will find a more obedient one to warm my bed tonight."
Xie Chengnan knew he was just speaking out of anger. Fearing Jiang Yuan might actually hurt someone, he turned and pulled the youth directly onto his lap, circling him with his arms. He patted Jiang Yuan's back to soothe him, murmuring, "Be good, don't make a fuss." Realizing his performance as a boyfriend tonight had indeed been lacking, he leaned down to kiss the tips of Jiang Yuan's hair and declared with a light chuckle, "I don't like him. I only like you."
Suddenly pulled into his arms and flirted with, Jiang Yuan was momentarily stunned. He felt the raging fire in his heart doused with a sudden *hiss*, leaving not even a spark behind. He could only manage a weak, blustering retort: "Are you coaxing a child?"
Xie Chengnan thought to himself, *Aren't I?* But aloud, he took a different turn: "I'm coaxing my little ancestor."
Jiang Yuan stared at him, wondering if this guy was really a virgin who had been single for nearly thirty years. How could he deliver sweet nothings so effortlessly and flirt so smoothly?
The young starlet was still timidly watching them from the side. Young Master Jiang found the sight annoying and waved two fingers, signaling for him to get lost.
The matter was dropped as quickly as it had been raised.
Everyone at the table breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that someone had the supreme talent for "stroking the fur" the right way. The Demon King had finally been pacified before any blood was shed.
Only Qiao Song kept his lips pressed thin, his face dark as he downed a glass of liquor.
Jiang Yuan didn't bother getting off Xie Chengnan. He leaned back against him, using him as a human sofa, not minding that the man’s frame was firm. After a few more drinks, his spirits returned. He sat up on Xie Chengnan’s lap, swaying his hips to the music.
Xie Chengnan let him be wild. Fearing he might fall, he reached out to steady him by the waist. Only when he felt it did he realize how thin Jiang Yuan’s waist was; it felt as though it might snap if he applied too much pressure.
In truth, the alcohol was starting to get to Xie Chengnan as well, but his habitual restraint prevented him from showing it. The alcohol numbed his senses, and by the time he realized something was wrong, Jiang Yuan had already turned around to look at him with a mischievous smile.
"Xie Chengnan," Jiang Yuan’s eyes flickered with a wicked glint. "You're poking me."
Xie Chengnan’s face went wooden as he tried to lift the youth off him.
Jiang Yuan, however, mischievously clung to him and even gave a deliberate rub. "Mr. Xie, your 'assets' are quite substantial, aren't they?"
He didn't intentionally lower his voice. Several people nearby turned their heads to look at them, their expressions becoming quite colorful.
Xie Chengnan felt incredibly embarrassed. He was a conservative man by nature and not someone who joked about private matters.
But Jiang Yuan was clearly different. He was likely used to crude humor in his daily life, and knowing Xie Chengnan wouldn't actually do anything to him, his courage was bolstered. He teased openly, "It seems I didn't buy the extra-large size by mistake. I thought I'd only be able to use them to blow up balloons."
Upon hearing "extra-large," even more ears perked up. The suggestive glances were no longer directed at their faces but were aimed straight at where Jiang Yuan was sitting.
Even in the dim light, Jiang Yuan could see that Xie Chengnan’s blush had spread all the way down to his neck. His upright expression was crumbling, revealing a hint of distress. Jiang Yuan thought to himself that this man was far too easy to tease, but that only made it more entertaining.
Xie Chengnan swatted the backside that was still causing trouble on his lap and said with a stiff face, "Get up."
Having had his fun, Jiang Yuan laughed and slumped down beside him.
Xie Chengnan stood up and headed for the restroom. He felt that the walk out of the booth was agonizingly awkward; having a certain area scrutinized by a crowd was not a pleasant experience.
In the restroom, Xie Chengnan splashed cold water on his face and then picked a stall to sit in, lighting a cigarette to wait until he calmed down. He knew he didn't have any improper thoughts toward Jiang Yuan; it was simply that he had been celibate for too long, and his body's reaction was a bit intense.
Perhaps because he had been in the restroom for too long, Jiang Yuan came looking for him. Xie Chengnan heard Jiang Yuan call his name outside, but before he could respond, he heard Jiang Yuan let out a muffled grunt. The door to the adjacent stall was slammed shut and locked.
"Qiao Song, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Yuan’s voice was low and laced with irritation.
"A-Yuan!" Qiao Song’s voice was urgent as he pinned him between his arms. "You and Xie Chengnan—it's fake, isn't it?"
Jiang Yuan gave a cold laugh. "Haven't you heard of a fake act becoming real?"
Qiao Song kicked the stall door hard and growled, "Impossible!"
"Why is it impossible?" Jiang Yuan crossed his arms and looked at him, his face full of mockery.
"You clearly don't like men!" Qiao Song’s eyes were red; he seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown.
"Did I ever say I don't like men?" Jiang Yuan asked amusedly. "Did you ever ask me?"
Qiao Song’s eyes looked ready to burst. "Then why did you reject me back then?! Have I not been good enough to you?"
"Qiao Song, do you really not understand why?" Jiang Yuan lowered his head, hiding his expression. "If you really liked me, then what is the deal with Lin Fei?"
Qiao Song was struck dumb. After a long silence, he murmured, "That was out of necessity... Ours is just a commercial marriage. There are no feelings involved..."
"Qiao Song." Jiang Yuan looked up, his gaze indifferent. "Do you expect me, Jiang Yuan, to be some hidden little lover kept in the shadows?"
"That’s not what I meant..." Qiao Song’s momentum vanished. "I really do love you..."
Jiang Yuan scoffed. "But you love the Qiao family estate even more."
Qiao Song had no rebuttal. He panted like a trapped beast unable to find an exit, still struggling. "A-Yuan... you should understand me, A-Yuan..."
"I don't understand, and I don't want to," Jiang Yuan said coldly. "If I, Jiang Yuan, like someone—even if it's a man—I have the courage to stand with him openly in the light of day. Qiao Song, do you? If you say you do, I’ll dump Xie Chengnan and be with you right now!"
"A-Yuan..." Qiao Song suddenly cupped Jiang Yuan’s face and leaned down to kiss him, but Jiang Yuan shoved him away with force, sending him crashing against the partition.
"Enough!" Jiang Yuan looked warily at the man who had lost his reason, warning him, "I don't want to reach a point where we can't even be friends!"
Qiao Song stood frozen for a long moment before opening the door and stumbling out.
Xie Chengnan waited until the sounds outside faded before stepping out of his stall.
Jiang Yuan was leaning against the sink, smoking. He curled his lips into a smile. "You heard everything?"
"Yes." Xie Chengnan carefully washed his fingers one by one. Amidst the sound of running water, he asked Jiang Yuan, "Do you like him?" He told himself he should be an open-minded guardian; even though he didn't think much of Qiao Song, he shouldn't interfere too much in the kid's love life.
To his surprise, Jiang Yuan stretched lazily, looking unconcerned. "Not at all." After saying that, he glanced at a certain part of Xie Chengnan’s anatomy. "Is it down yet?"
Xie Chengnan: "..."
He decided he wouldn't speak for the rest of the night, lest the conversation veer into strange territory again.
***
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